Elevator-wrench.



G. F. LBBUS..

ELEVATOR WRENCH.

APPLIUATION FILED 5,111.27, 1914.

Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

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ATTORNEYS niieaa GEORGE FRANKLINILEBUS,ornnncrnA, TEXAS. i

` nLEvaroRLwRENCH.

, `Specifcation. of letters Patient."

Patented oct. 1e, 1914. i

Applicationffuea January 27, 1914. l seria; Ng. 814,660.

To all whom t may concern i i x Be it known .that l, GnonengF. LEBUs, a

citizen of the United States, and aresident' of Electra, in the countyofF-Vllicliita and State of reXas, have' invented a new and-i useful lmprovement in Elevator-Vlrenches,`

of which the following is a specification.,

My invention is an improvement infelevater wrenches, and has for its object to provide a device of the character specified, for' use in rotary drilling machines for supportingthe drill pipe and `for holding it romj rotation during the releasing of theseveral joints of the pipe whenit` is ,necessaryito withdraw the drill from the well hole.

ln the drawings Figure 1-.is a top plan view of the improved wrench, Fig. 21s a` section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, Fig.3 is a side view of the wrench, and Fig. 1 isa section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, looking inuthe direction of the arrowsn rlhe present embodiment of the invention is shown in connection with alanged nipple, the said nipple comprising a plate 1 of approximately rectangular shape and vhaving 'a central opening through which rextends one end of `a sleeve 2, and the ends of the sleeve are flanged as shown at 3, the upper face of the plate 1 being counterbored as shown to i receive the upper flange of the sleeve.

A plurality of right-angled brace 'brackets A is arranged between each end of the plateV 1 and the-sleeve, and between each pair of brackets a reinforcing bar 5 is arranged on the under face of the plate. Pins 6 are passed through registering openingsin the bars and the ends of the plate, and the said pins are secured in place in any desired manner. The lianged nipple is placed "over the pipe as indicated in Fig. 2, the pipe being indicated in dotted lines and the `improved wrench engages thepipe above the nipple.

ln rotary well drilling the drill machine is provided with four gripping rings, which are tightened on the drill'pipe, so that the sharp edges of thegrip rings bearagainst the pipe, after which the machine isstarted and 'the drill becomes dull. raised out of the `well hole, and the dulled drill replaced by a sharp one. With the flanged nipple, when the bitbeccmes `dulled, the rotary machine is released to permit the flanged nipple to drop in between the grip` raised. outof the well hole. y 1 i The wrench is in the form cfa split sleevev .the other. y t 1 `The split ends of `the collar are enlarged vduced handle 17.

pipe is turned until the drill The drill pipe must then be` i rings `and the pipe. `The machineis their tightened onthe nipple, and the drill pipe is orcollar `7,1the opening 8 or splitof the collar being `of the same width as the diameter "of the bore of the collar, so that the collar canbe placed on the pipe 9 laterally. At

each endithe collar is externally reinforced i y afrib10,-ithe said ribs extending radially and from one side of the split or opening to to form spaced bearing lugs or ears 11 and 12 respectively, at each side of the splitor opening 8, and agripping Jaw`13 is pivoted i between the ears 11, by means offapivot pin 111 or the like. A lever 15 is pivoted between the ears or lugs '12, bymeans of a pivot pin 16, and the saidylever is provided with a re- The pivot/pin lpassesthroughfthe'ears` or lugs 12 of the collar and through an eX- ktensionilug 1S of the lever, the said lug eX- `tending in the opposite direction to the handle. The extremity of the jaw 13 is reduced "at the end remote from the pivotpin 14 as e indicated at 20, and the said reduced portion is adaptedto' enter a recess 21 in the inner end ofthelever 15.- and` in the inner adjacent edge of thelug 18.' The inner end of the leverandthe inner edge of `they extension lug 18 'areserrated as shownat 19, above and below the recess.` t The inner edge of the jaw 413 is also serrated as shown at22,`and it` will be noted that the serrations or teeth 19 and 22 are shaped like ratchet teeth and face in` thesame direction. y y, l

The lever15 is p'rovidedwith a transverse vertical opening 23, andthe upper endof` A bolt 25 is passed through the opening 23*-` 24, andthe lower end of thebolt is en" `gaged by a `nut`26fto prevent disengagement the bolt. Af coil spring encircles `the belt-inthe counterbored portion 211 of the opening, fthe springbearing `at one? end against thehead of the bolt and at the other vk'end#against the annular shoulder formed".V

between the counterbored portion ofk the opening and the main portion thereof.` `The collar` is also provided at its lower end with an extension 30, lthe `said Aextension being of greater thickness than the thicknessof the i collar and having its outer surfacelush with v95 the'op'ening is `counterbored as shown at 241.-.` i"

` `'the outer surface V`oi the collar vbetween the `rso ribs 10. 'The internal diameter of the extension is thus less than that of the collar, anda shoulder 31 is formed between the `extension and the collar.

adapted to tit within the portion 2 of the nipple as shown in 2, and the underv face of -thelowerinost reinforcing rib 10 is adapted to enga-ge the upper tace of the plate 1 to limit the downward movement ofi (diameter to receive the pipe proper. The collar is also provided with `oppositely arrangedy rings 32, for engagement by lifting means `to lift the wrench and the pipe.

i `lllhen it is desired to arrange the wrench on the lpipe,the flanged :nipple is'lirst placed as shown in Fig. 2. The gripping jaw'` is -then swunginto the dotted line position of i Fig, 1, and the lever 15 is .swung away from the gripping jaw 13 to permit the pipe toenter the Acollar by way of the split or opening 8. The extension 30 o the collar kengages With-in thevtubular portion of the "nipple and the said .extension is of Vsuch "thickness that it will just ifl'l the space be-f tweenthe pipe and `the inner surface of the nipple as shown inrF ig. 9.. "After the `collar yhas been placed as above mentioned, the gripping jawi is swung into the full line position oflig. l with the reduced portion or lug 20 received yin the lrecess 21 of the' lever. `When .now the handle of the lever.

is swung toward :the observer in Fig. 1, the teeth of the gripping jaw 13 will be forced Iinto engagement with the peripheral sur-j face of :the pipe, tightly `clamping the same between the inner surface of the collar and` The union 135 con-ik the gripping t jaw 13. jnecting thejoints of the pipe yis adapted to fit within the collar, lthe pipe proper being received within the extension 80, .and the internalfd-iameter of :the -col'lar is of a size The lower end( to .receive the said union. of the union rests upon the shoulderor ledge .31., and the under face -of the'lowermost rel p intorcing rib 10 rests upon the upper facey I of the plate 11, :thus preventing.doivvnward` movement of the pipe. The lifting mechanism is vconnected. with the rings 32 and it will be yevident .that the @pipe will be firmly held froindownward movement.

The operationvis as olloivsz-Wlien the bit becomes dull and it isfnecessary toreplace it, the pipe .must be withdrawn trom the .well hole. l 1t will be understood that the .A drill pipesare of great length, as for f stance, 2,000 feet, la-nd the said` pipeconsists oit' sections `connected by unions or coupling sleeves 33. y The pipe is lifted, andas .it is lifted the several jointsare vreleased unserewingthem from the union, ithe upper- The extension is most section of pipe being screwed out of the union leaving the union connected with the next lower joint of pipe. As each union appears labove the well hole, the entire pipe .is raised until the union is a foot or so above the top of the flanged nipple, that is, above the top of the plate 1. Then the improved wrench is placed on the pipe, and the extension 30 is permitted to slip down into the position shown in Fig. 2. The pipe is then lowered until the lower end of the rlhe collar 7 is of a size linternally `to re-; ceive. the union which connects the oints of?. pipe, while the extension 30 isofan ,internal :union 33 rests upon the shoulder 31. The iaw'vlB is arranged as shown in Fig. 1, and :a pipe Wrench` is connected with the joint lof pipe above the union within the wrench. As the pipe wrench is .moved in a direction to unscrew the uppermost joint, the handle 17 of the lever will be brought into contact with one of the ,pins G, and the more pressure that is brought to bear upon the pipe Wrench, the more tightly will the handle be Ipressed .against the pin G, and the more tightly the teeth' 19 `and 22 will be pressed 4against the peripheral surface of the union. The union 33 within the wrench is absolutely prevented from movement with the pipe Wrenchso that the uppermost joint may be easily detached. After the said joint `has been detached, the elevating mechanism =is iengaged with the links 32 and the entire pipe is lifted until the next union is above the well hole after which the operation is repeated.

It will be understood that the drilling machine is reversed to release the pipe sections in succession. It will be noticed that the outer .end of `the reduced portion 20 of the gripping jaw is rounded or cam shaped, for engagement by the cam shaped bottom wall .of the vrecess 21. llVhen .the lever is swung toward the observer -in Figs. 1 and et, the lug .84 which extends at approximately a right angle Vto the vhandle bears against a rounded `cam 4ot the ,portion 20 to force the gripping jaw toward `the pipe.

The bolt 25` constitutes a lock, and it will .be noted that the counterbored portion of the opening is of smlicient size to receive the head of the bolt so `that the bolt can be depressed `against the resistance of the spring. The head of the bolt and lthe nut normally extend above and below the lever, and the uppermost rear of the pair 1Q is provided with an extension 35 for engagement by the head when it is in the position shown in F ig. 2 lto ,prevent the lever 15 from swinging far enough to release the *lu-g Q0 of the gripping jaw from lthe recess 21 o1 the lever. The said lug cannot be released from the lever until the bolt is depressed a suliicient bular portion extending venting the entire detachment of the wrench from the pipeY while permitting the parts to take a position such that the wrench will move freely vertically on the pipe.

I claim z:

1. A device of the character specified, comprising a flanged nipple consisting of a tubular portion of greater diameter thanthe pipe and through which the pipe is adapted to pass, and a plate at the upper end of the tubular portion, said plate having a stop at each end thereof and on the upper face of the plate, a wrench comprising a split collar of a diameter to receive the union, the split of the collar being of the saine diameter as the collar, said collar having a depending extension adapted to lit between the inner surface of the tubular portion of the nipple and the pipethe wrench having a shoulder between the extension and the collar for engagement by the lower end of the union, said collar having at each end vertically spaced bearing lugs,` a .gripping jaw pivoted between one pair of lugs and adapted toswing toward the other pair and having its innei` edge serrated for engaging theunion, a lever pivoted between the other pair oflugs and having its inner end serrated and provided with a recess, the gripping jaw having a reduced extension litting within the recess, said lever being adapted to engage one of the stops of the plate when the pipe is turned to force the gripping jaw into engagement with the union, said collar having oppositely arranged rings for engagement by lifting mechanism. Y,

2. A device of the character specified. comprising a flanged nipple consisting of a plate having a central opening for permit-` ting the passage of the drill pipe anda tudownwardly from the opening for encircling lthe pipe, said nipple having stops on the upper face and at the ends of the plate., and a wrench comprising a split collar for engaging the pipe laterally and of a diameter to receivea union, the collar having a depending extension of a diameter to fit the pipe, the extension being split to permit it to engage the pipe laterally, the wrench having an annular shoulder between the collar and the extension for engagement by the lower end of the union,

and having an annular shoulder between the collar and the extension for engaging the upper face of the plate, a gripping jaw pivoted to one end of the split collar and having serrations for engaging the union, a lever pivoted to the other end, said lever having a recess in its inner end, and the gripping jaw having a reduced lug fitting within the recess, the lever being adapted to engage a stop of the plate to force the gripping jaw toward the pipe, and a releasable lock in connection with the lever, the collar having an extension for engagement by the lock to permit the outward swinging movement of the lever to prevent the entire release of the gripping jaw until the lock is released.

A` device of the character specified, comprising a flanged nipple consisting of a plate having a central opening for permitting the passage of the drill pipe and a tubular portion extending downwardly from the opening for encircling the pipe, said nipple having stops on the upperface and at the ends of the plate, and a wrench comprising a split collar for engaging the pipe laterally and of a` diameter to receive a union, the collar having a depending eX- tension of a diameter to fit the pipe, the extension being split topermit it to engage th-e pipe laterally, the wrench having an annular shoulder between the collar and the eXtensionfor engagement by the lowerend of the union, and having `an annular shoulder between the collar and the eXtension for engaging the upperface ofthe plate, a gripping jaw pivoted to one end of the split collar and having serrations for engaging the union, a lever pivoted to the other end, said lever `having a recess in its inner end, and the gripping jaw having a reduced lug fitting within the recess, the lever being adapted to engage a stop of the Vplate to Aforce the grippingjaw toward the pipe. i

4. A device 0f the character speciiied, comprising a sleeve through which a drill pipe and its union are adapted to pass, a

plate at the upper end of the sleeve and se-` cured thereto,said plate having at` each end `an upwardly extending stop, a wrench comprising a split collar for .engaging a union of the drill pipe laterally and having a depending extension adapted to fit the pipe, the wrench having internal and external shoulders at the junction of the eXtension therewith for engagingthe lower end of the union and the upper face of the plate respectively, clamping means in connection with the collar for gripping the union, a lever pivoted to the collar and adapted to engage the clamping mechanism and to cause the same to grip theunion when the lever is swung in one direction, the lever being adapted to engage one of the stops of the plate to operate the clamping mechanism.

5. vA device of the character specified, comprising a wrench consisting of a split collar of a diameter to slip over a union laterally and having a depending extension of less diametel` for receiving the pipe below the union, the wrench having a shoulder for engagement by the lower end of the union, a gripping jawfpivoted to one end of y the collar, a lever pivoted to. the other end and having an extension for engaging the gripping jaw to force it toward the union when the lever is swung yin one direction, 13g

the gripping'jaw having a reduced lug at its outer end and the lever a recess at its inner end for engagement by the lug, a releasable lock in connection with the lever for limiting the 'outward swinging movement of the same to prevent the entire release of -th'e gripping jaw, and a nipple through which the pipe is adapted to extend, the extension beingy received between the pipe and the inner surface .of the nipple, said nipple having stops for engagement by the outer end of the lever to cause the lever to operate. the gripping jaw wh-en the .wrench is swung in one direction.

6. Af device of the character specified, .comprising a wrench consisting of a. split collar of a diameter to slip over a union laterally and Ihavinga depending extension of less diameter for receiving the pipe below the union, the wrench having a shoulder yfor engagement by the lower end of the union, a gripping jaw pivoted to one end 'ofthe collar, a lever pivoted to the other end and having an extension for engaging the .gripping jaw to force it toward the union when .the lever is swung in one direction, the gripping jaw having a reduced lug a-tits. outer end and the lever a recess at its inner end for engagement by the lug, a releasable lock in connection with the lever for limiting the outward swinging movev ment lof the same to prevent the entire release of the gripping jaw.

7. A device of the character specified, comprising a wrench consisting of a split collar of a diameter to slip over a union laterally and having a depending extension of less diameter for receiving the pipe below the union, the wrench having a shoulder for engagement by the lower end of the union, a gripping jaw pivoted to one end of the collar, a lever pivoted to the other end and having an extension for engaging the gripping jaw to force it toward the union when the lever is swung in one direction, a nipple through which the pipe is adapted to pass, the extension being received between the pipe and the inner surface of the nipple, and the wrench having an external shoulder between the collar and the extension for engaging the upper end of the nipple, and the nipple having stops for engagement by the lever to swing it in a direction to move the gripping jaw toward the union when the wrench is swung in one direction.

S. A device of the character specified,

comprising a wrench consisting of a split,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents,

Washington, D. C. 

